PALANPUR: Farmers of Dholpur village in Modasa taluka of Aravalli district on Friday dumped tonnes of tomatoes on road over low prices in the wholesale market. The farmers complained that they were getting Rs 4-5 per kg of tomatoes, which was much lower then the cultivation cost.
They said that they were forced to dump the tomatoes on the road as it was not fetching them any income. This was their way of protesting.
This year, farmers who mostly grow cereals, oilseeds and pulses have cultivated tomatoes in 400 hectares of land in Modasa.
“The market offers Rs 4-5 per kg. This does not even offset our transportation cost leading to huge losses,” said one of the protesting farmers.
According to farmers, they spent Rs 18,000-20,000 per bigha for tomato cultivation. However, the returns were disappointing as 20kg tomatoes were fetching them Rs 80-100 in the APMC. They also alleged that the middlemen who bought the tomatoes for Rs 4-5 per kg were selling it in the retail market at Rs 20-30 per kg.